Discussion
entropy said:
Interesting insights from Mark Gallagher when I was listening to Codder's Flat Chat podcast - management staffed by cock-blockers who are too set their ways.
Isn't that the case in almost all corporate environments? I'm yet to see a company that at some level isn't managed by a group that can be referred to as "cock-blockers who are too set their ways".thegreenhell said:
Rumour is that they are actually considering bringing in a professional TP to run the team. Jost Capito and Eric Boullier have been mentioned. This is in addition to Pat Fry 'coincidentally' becoming available in the same week that Paddy Lowe's departure is formalised.
Despite the conspiracy, Pat Fry was only ever on a short contract with Mclaren while James Key was unavailable, him leaving now isn't connected to Paddy Lowe finally being gone officially. If William's have ANY intention of turning things around properly though they'll snap Fry up and get Capito in to run the show. 
thegreenhell said:
Rumour is that they are actually considering bringing in a professional TP to run the team. Jost Capito and Eric Boullier have been mentioned. .
I'd guess there is not much left for a new TP to pick up, F1 is so competitive all the stars/up coming stars in the design, engineering and race teams will have long since departed - the new TP will be walking into a nightmare with a team left comprising the disgruntled, the stick in the muds, the ones waiting for their pension etc. I'm sure there are still loads of mega-talented staff but the stars that keep teams going forwards will have left by now. Maybe the only fix will be a new owner, save the team before its too late.
rallycross said:
I'd guess there is not much left for a new TP to pick up, F1 is so competitive all the stars/up coming stars in the design, engineering and race teams will have long since departed - the new TP will be walking into a nightmare with a team left comprising the disgruntled, the stick in the muds, the ones waiting for their pension etc. I'm sure there are still loads of mega-talented staff but the stars that keep teams going forwards will have left by now.
Maybe the only fix will be a new owner, save the team before its too late.
100% to new owner. The team won't get the recovery investment it needs so long as the Williams duo are in charge. Said with no disrespect to Frank or Claire - but repeat tried and failed results will not attract the 100's of millions of investment needed to sustain the team and turn it around, which realistically will take 2-3 years at best.Maybe the only fix will be a new owner, save the team before its too late.
thegreenhell said:
Rumour is that they are actually considering bringing in a professional TP to run the team. Jost Capito and Eric Boullier have been mentioned. This is in addition to Pat Fry 'coincidentally' becoming available in the same week that Paddy Lowe's departure is formalised.
If rumour is listening to Joe Saward on the Missed Apex podcast...Another great interview from Nico’s Podcast this time with Claire Williams.
https://youtu.be/wubiknqk9BA
Gets good from 35 mins - I’d guess we’d all maybe take back some of the negative comments on here from listening to this interview ( including some of my ones).
https://youtu.be/wubiknqk9BA
Gets good from 35 mins - I’d guess we’d all maybe take back some of the negative comments on here from listening to this interview ( including some of my ones).
Edited by rallycross on Monday 8th July 22:03
rallycross said:
Another great interview from Nico’s Podcast this time with Claire Williams.
https://youtu.be/wubiknqk9BA
Gets good from 35 mins - I’d guess we’d all maybe take back some of the negative comments on here from listening to this interview ( including some of my ones).
Not listened yet but I will tomorrow. As an aside, Nico always irratetede me in an indefinable way, but nonetheless his podcast/YouTube videos have held my attention. https://youtu.be/wubiknqk9BA
Gets good from 35 mins - I’d guess we’d all maybe take back some of the negative comments on here from listening to this interview ( including some of my ones).
Edited by rallycross on Monday 8th July 22:03
I shall prepare to have my views shifted about Claire - or perhaps have them reinforced that she's far better at PR than team management.. we shall see..
I hope for the former.
TheDeuce said:
rallycross said:
Another great interview from Nico’s Podcast this time with Claire Williams.
https://youtu.be/wubiknqk9BA
Gets good from 35 mins - I’d guess we’d all maybe take back some of the negative comments on here from listening to this interview ( including some of my ones).
Not listened yet but I will tomorrow. As an aside, Nico always irratetede me in an indefinable way, but nonetheless his podcast/YouTube videos have held my attention. https://youtu.be/wubiknqk9BA
Gets good from 35 mins - I’d guess we’d all maybe take back some of the negative comments on here from listening to this interview ( including some of my ones).
Edited by rallycross on Monday 8th July 22:03
Interesting in that it's this subject that he keeps heading back to. It sounds like he found that niche for himself and wants to extoll the virtues of it to all. He's a complex character Nico, his podcasts certainly don't do anything to simplify him but I have way more respect for him now than when he was racing.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Me too, his enthusiasm for his subjects in the podcasts comes through and he's making a real success of them-despite the appalling production work. What is interesting is he focusses so much on the sports phycology side of his interviewees and really drills down to get them to explain to the layman just how they train their minds, bodies and attitudes to be ultra successful.
Interesting in that it's this subject that he keeps heading back to. It sounds like he found that niche for himself and wants to extoll the virtues of it to all. He's a complex character Nico, his podcasts certainly don't do anything to simplify him but I have way more respect for him now than when he was racing.
He is obsessed with his own mental management, and that of others. Makes sense of why he gave up after beating Lewis - he's said that the effort to achieve that took every part of his mindset and focus. It's an incredible feat to make such an effort but it's understandable that it's not something he could repeat year on year moving forwards. With Lewis, calm and inner confidence seem to be natural traits..Interesting in that it's this subject that he keeps heading back to. It sounds like he found that niche for himself and wants to extoll the virtues of it to all. He's a complex character Nico, his podcasts certainly don't do anything to simplify him but I have way more respect for him now than when he was racing.
Nico is fascinated by success and what drives people. Very interesting subjects.
He seems a touch arrogant (jealous?) when he gets airtime at race weekends. But sat having a chat with someone he respects, he is great. I imagine those in the inner circle of F1 had and have a lot of time for him.
Maybe, one day Lewis will sit and talk with him again, that would be fascinating indeed. I'm sure if ever, that will be after Lewis retires though.
Maybe? It’s impossible to guess someone’s private thoughts but I think the difference in the two’s continued comments speak volumes.
ROS couldn’t be more complimentary about HAM ever since he’s retired, to the point of fawning over him. Some people put that down to him simply justifying in his own mind HAM beating him the bulk of the time but I’m not so sure-I think the admiration is genuine.
HAM on the other hand, simply doesn’t reference him at all. I’m fact, I can recall him mentioning someone who may not even have been ROS only once when asked about life after F1 and saying [sic] “you won’t see me still hanging around, wearing the same old suits trying to ask questions”.
Back to Williams however, give the podcast a listen-it’s quite enlightening.
ROS couldn’t be more complimentary about HAM ever since he’s retired, to the point of fawning over him. Some people put that down to him simply justifying in his own mind HAM beating him the bulk of the time but I’m not so sure-I think the admiration is genuine.
HAM on the other hand, simply doesn’t reference him at all. I’m fact, I can recall him mentioning someone who may not even have been ROS only once when asked about life after F1 and saying [sic] “you won’t see me still hanging around, wearing the same old suits trying to ask questions”.
Back to Williams however, give the podcast a listen-it’s quite enlightening.
I think Nico can come across as a little unlikeable occasionally but you have to remember English isn't his first language and make the necessary allowances.
He's a good guy and yes deeply interested in the mental side of the sport as that what was required of him to win, it comes naturally to some, less so to others.
Great episode with CW, I always have huge respect for her and continue to do so.
He's a good guy and yes deeply interested in the mental side of the sport as that what was required of him to win, it comes naturally to some, less so to others.
Great episode with CW, I always have huge respect for her and continue to do so.
Enjoyed the podcast.
I find it difficult to be convinced by Claire. Whenever she talks about the way she got into her current role she always sounds like somebody who has had this highly visible position in the piranha club of F1 foisted upon her. It looks to me as though most of the other team principals have been naturally driven towards these frontline positions over the course of their careers by virtue of their character and aptitude. Claire generally says the right things but occasionally the mask slips and betrays her bullish, self-confident façade.
That is not to say that I think she's responsible for the team's competitive position. If you look at Williams' position in the competitive order since the BMW money was withdrawn, I'd say that the team has pretty much reverted to mean having been temporarily boosted by a massive engine advantage in 2014/15. It's a little worse than that this time, and looks worse still since the usual cushion under their bottom, the true 'minnow' teams', are gone.
I think Claire can lead the team to relative success, but I think she will have to recognize her own shortcomings and power-share with a complimentary character or two in order to do so- just like most other Team Principals.
There were some very strong and very interesting comments from Claire about unnamed individuals and groups which I inferred to be the Strolls, the Latifis, and possibly Paddy Lowe? anybody else have any ideas?
I find it difficult to be convinced by Claire. Whenever she talks about the way she got into her current role she always sounds like somebody who has had this highly visible position in the piranha club of F1 foisted upon her. It looks to me as though most of the other team principals have been naturally driven towards these frontline positions over the course of their careers by virtue of their character and aptitude. Claire generally says the right things but occasionally the mask slips and betrays her bullish, self-confident façade.
That is not to say that I think she's responsible for the team's competitive position. If you look at Williams' position in the competitive order since the BMW money was withdrawn, I'd say that the team has pretty much reverted to mean having been temporarily boosted by a massive engine advantage in 2014/15. It's a little worse than that this time, and looks worse still since the usual cushion under their bottom, the true 'minnow' teams', are gone.
I think Claire can lead the team to relative success, but I think she will have to recognize her own shortcomings and power-share with a complimentary character or two in order to do so- just like most other Team Principals.
There were some very strong and very interesting comments from Claire about unnamed individuals and groups which I inferred to be the Strolls, the Latifis, and possibly Paddy Lowe? anybody else have any ideas?
Still amazed she said she thinks she's good at building a successful team in that interview to he honest. My only question is when is that going to happen?
It's easy to blame everything going wrong in nameless people and vague references to things behind the scenes, ideal tactic to deflect from the fact she's responsible ultimately for who does what in each department particularly getting the right people in to each department. They're in utter s
t state and have been for a while now, yet she continues to claim she's good at her job?
If it was any other team principal in any other team they'd have had the boot way before now. It says a lot about her ability that Patrick Head has been bought in to give everyone a kick up the arse and effectively consult on who to get rid of....
It's easy to blame everything going wrong in nameless people and vague references to things behind the scenes, ideal tactic to deflect from the fact she's responsible ultimately for who does what in each department particularly getting the right people in to each department. They're in utter s
t state and have been for a while now, yet she continues to claim she's good at her job? If it was any other team principal in any other team they'd have had the boot way before now. It says a lot about her ability that Patrick Head has been bought in to give everyone a kick up the arse and effectively consult on who to get rid of....
I have also just finished watching it.
I would say she comes across extremely well. Very natural in fact. I'm sure she has a fantastic wealth of knowledge and instinct from growing up as she has.
There's something missing though.. Just the sense that she's not fully in control and perhaps focuses on activity over effectiveness.
One example, the implementation of emotional intelligence testing etc.. She raised a problem that Williams have with that, namely that the team is old enough to have a significant generation gap between people that have to work together, and that emotionally they react/read and respond differently. "good point" I though, and waited for her to explain her plan to resolve this - but no plan came.
Then it got very awkward when she gave an example of social media impoliteness by people saying "She only has the job because she's the bosses daughter" but failed to say anything further about it. It felt like she pointed to the elephant in the room then pretended it didn't exist. It is a very poignant question though, she can hardly demand respect without demonstrating that she's effective enough to have the job on merit, irrespective of whether or not she happens to be Franks daughter. If she can't talk about that situation and answer the doubters then of course, such criticisms and assumptions will remain.
I have nothing bad to say about her at all, it's just I'm not convinced on several levels that she's in the right job. That's also emphatically not a criticism of her as a person, because it's not as if shes had very much choice about getting the job she has.
As ever, the more I hear from Claire, the more I warm to her but also feel she's in an almost impossibly awkward situation.
I would say she comes across extremely well. Very natural in fact. I'm sure she has a fantastic wealth of knowledge and instinct from growing up as she has.
There's something missing though.. Just the sense that she's not fully in control and perhaps focuses on activity over effectiveness.
One example, the implementation of emotional intelligence testing etc.. She raised a problem that Williams have with that, namely that the team is old enough to have a significant generation gap between people that have to work together, and that emotionally they react/read and respond differently. "good point" I though, and waited for her to explain her plan to resolve this - but no plan came.
Then it got very awkward when she gave an example of social media impoliteness by people saying "She only has the job because she's the bosses daughter" but failed to say anything further about it. It felt like she pointed to the elephant in the room then pretended it didn't exist. It is a very poignant question though, she can hardly demand respect without demonstrating that she's effective enough to have the job on merit, irrespective of whether or not she happens to be Franks daughter. If she can't talk about that situation and answer the doubters then of course, such criticisms and assumptions will remain.
I have nothing bad to say about her at all, it's just I'm not convinced on several levels that she's in the right job. That's also emphatically not a criticism of her as a person, because it's not as if shes had very much choice about getting the job she has.
As ever, the more I hear from Claire, the more I warm to her but also feel she's in an almost impossibly awkward situation.
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